BMW Motorrad BoxerCUP Sachsenring preview

Boxers Come Home To Race at Sachsenring

Round 5 of the BMW Motorrad BoxerCup 2004 returns to the Sachsenring for its `home' race this weekend in front of the tremendously patriotic German fans watching every move of the closest motorcycle racing in the world at the moment. Three winners from four races says as such, and with it rare that a rider wins more than one BoxerCup race in a season, the championship leader Thomas Hinterreiter, who's broken the mould and had two wins already this year, is going to be put under massive pressure from local man Markus Barth (D) for the top step of the podium. Barth has not won yet this year, but from his second place in the points table he is ready to pounce and seize any advantage possible to close the 20 point gap to Hinterreiter this weekend. The race once more is a support race for the ever growing MotoGP world championship.

Sachsenring is a favourite among the BMW Motorrad BoxerCup paddock not only because it is the `home' race for this multi-national championship with 18 teams coming from 10 countries, but because the track is steeped in so much history from the height of motorcycle racing during the 1960's in this part of the world. For example, the modern 2 stroke engine was mastered just a few kilometres down the road from the track that was originally a `mini Nürburgring' through the woods and forests.

The tight and twisty curves of the modern incarnation still use a very small part of the original track, but it is the shortest circuit in the eight race BMW BoxerCup calendar meaning a nimble set-up with the BMW R 1100 S will be rewarded with valuable points. However, whilst the main straight is short, the Castrol Omega corner, and then tremendously challenging right hand sweep behind the paddock will test the suspension balance to the full as the BMWs are held over on their sides at maximum grip.13 time 500cc Grand Prix winner Randy Mamola will be racing as a VIP rider this weekend and is sure to be in the thick of it, just as he was last year. In fact, it is a real TV commentator's line up alongside Eurosport's Mamola as RTL TV's Jurgen Fuchs who is lining up on the grid for more action to be the first TV commentator over the line.

BMW are thinking of the future too with the BMW YoungStar category for riders under 21 years of age. Currently it is Frenchman Guillaume Dietrich leading Brits Barry Burrell and Richard Cooper. For the winner of the YoungStar category, they'll drive home in a brand New Mini Cooper. With a prize fund of 212,000, a BMW M3 Coupe for the overall winner, a BMW Z42.2 for second, and the all new BMW RG 1200S for the third placed rider, it really is a stunning championship that produces stunning racing.

The BMW Motorrad BoxerCup 2004 runs over eight races from March to October. Having been to Daytona, Le Mans, Mugello, Assen and this weekend at the Sachsenring, the flat twin machines move on to Donington Park next weekend, Brno in August and then the final MotoGP meeting of the year at Valencia. Who will be driving back from Valencia in a brand new BMW M3 Coupe as the winner's prize?

-bmw-